Damien Lewis catching heat

[tarlhawk]

Starting to see a few posts already discounting the play of Damien Lewis and asserting doubts of him getting better. Its already been posted enough on here as well as by former NFL players who have made switches from one side to the other...this is especially true when using the independent hand technique...you strike out with your outside hand putting it on the opponent as he's moving then punch out with your inside hand to get both hands on him...this technique would require you to switch up your rep memory you developed while playing your original side. Whichever hand is your normal strength hand...it would now function differently. This would be less of a problem with a two handed punch technique which is what Solari has favored for Pass Protection since it keeps the "pocket" clean for a longer amt of time. The sacrifice is the accuracy to use this power technique often misses if the skill level of the opponent allows him to suddenly move and your lineman whiffs allowing quick QB pressure...unchecked sacks.

My other point would be the LG position is more likely to see the opponents best pass rusher if the LT has moved outside to stop a recognized stunt. As a RG your run blocking is more at play since many runs are right of center and inside of RT...you seldom deal with the other teams best pass rushing end. Left side more oriented for Pass Protection...Right Side more oriented for Run Blocking (Its the "strong" side where the TE *when using single TE formations* can assist in blocking.

My last comment is I wonder why Gabe Jackson was placed at RG when he played LG his first two years with the Raiders but RG his last 5 years with the Raiders (unless he stated a preference when trade was made). Some position switches in our past have been related to grooming a center ( Both Ethan Pocic and Justin Britt ended at C after being moved to interior positions earlier). Damien Lewis did a spot start at center his rookie year against the Arizona Cardinals (due to Ethan Pocic/Kyle Fuller injuries) settling down after giving up a sack on his first snap. He never played center in High school or College. He had three days of practice which helped him before starting the game...but he impressed Pete and Russell Wilson.

"He adjusted throughout the game. He made great calls. We were on the same page, me and him. There was a couple plays here and there, but I thought that to be a rookie, to play, be such a great guard, and then have to move to center this game and not knowing what's going to happen here and I thought he did a tremendous job."
Russell Wilson on Damien Lewis playing center for the first time

[NorthHawk]

It's another mysterious move on the OL that hasn't turned out to be in the best interest of player development.
I expect many players have some trouble the 2nd year but when it's compounded by a positional change it can really
impact the development of a young player. We may be seeing the beginning of ruining the career of another Offensive Lineman.

[tarlhawk]

If the team agrees with you or Solari thinks Damien can't adapt then next year will probably see both guards swap or a guard drafted. I'd rather see a C then a LT as priority being drafted before another guard.

[NorthHawk]

If the team agrees with you or Solari thinks Damien can't adapt then next year will probably see both guards swap or a guard drafted. I'd rather see a C then a LT as priority being drafted before another guard.

Me, too but my point was the concern with Lewis’s development.
We could have upgraded the Center position last year when LV cut Rodney Hudson, sigh…

[tarlhawk]

Me, too but my point was the concern with Lewis’s development.
We could have upgraded the Center position last year when LV cut Rodney Hudson, sigh…

We never/seldom get the decision making insight of our personnel being acquired from outside our own player development. I trust JS either didn't want to get that done...or just plain couldn't...we had cap space to get Gabe Jackson as well as Hudson.